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A 




SEliMON, 

i 




PREACHED TO THE j 


CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY ' 




IN H L D E X , 




OCTOBER 2;)<h, 1SC3.- THE gXJNDAV FOLLOWIXi; 


THE 


THIRTIETH A^^\IYERSARY 




OF THE 




SETTLEMENT OF THEIR PASTOR. 




liEV. ATM. Pr'PAIXE. D. I). 




WORCESTER: 




PRINTED BY EDWARD R.FISKE, 




18 6 4. 





A 



SERMON, 



PREACHED TO THE 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY 



IN H OLDEN 



OCTOBER 25th, 1863 : THE SUNDAY FOLLOWraa 



THE THIRTIETH A^^XIVERSARY 



SETTLEMENT OF THEIR PASTOR 



REV. WM. P. PAIKE, D. D. 




WORCESTER: 

PRINTED BY EDWAED R. FISKEj 
18 64. 



\2GZ 



To the earnest request of a friend, who was present when the following ser- 
mon was preached, that it might be published, and that he might be permitted 
to assume the pecuniary responsibility thereof, the author gives his assent ; 
and this is done the more willingly on account of the historical and statistical 
features of the discourse. 



SERMON 



"Thy T^ay, God, is in the sanctuary." — Psalms, 77 .' 13. 

It is quite customary for ministers, who are sufficiently 
stationary, to preach, occasionally, memorial sermons. Some 
do it annually, others at longer periods. I have preached 
several such discourses, at irregular intervals. Those more 
especially of this tj^e, were preached at the expiration of a 
ministry of seven, fourteen, twenty and twenty-five years. 
The close of another decade, to which we have now come, 
seems peculiarly appropriate to another somewhat formal 
review of what is quite rare, if not indeed a real wonder, in 
these days — a thirty years' pastorate. 

The text warrants, and seems to favor by inference, 
occasional memorial sermons. God's way with a commu- 
nity is largely in and through the sanctuary. ^Hiile there 
are other in'stitutions and influences of great importance 
and power, there are surely none so intimately and vitally 
connected with our present and future destinies. If you 
were to designate the influence which has been more dis- 
tinct and potent than any other in affecting and defining the 
interests of those who have lived and developed their minds 
and. characters in this place, would you hesitate to declare 
most emphatically, that your religious institutions are that 
power ? The results of vour educational interests cannot be 



compassed and weighed. But your sanctuary has exercised 
far greater power. But for this one interest, how exceed- 
ingly would all others have suffered and languished, if in- 
deed they had had a being, or had not totally died ! "WTiile, 
therefore, other memorial occasions may be quite suitable 
and useful, this is much more so. The way of God with us 
is, and ever has been, peculiarly in and through the sanc- 
tuary. The character and destiny of every one of us have 
been materially affected by the ministry under which we 
have lived, and whose influence we can never escape. 
Hence it may be highly profitable to take special reviews, 
occasionally, of periods of these sacred iniiuences. 

A signiiicant and serious feature of the period now to be 
surveyed is, that it embraces just the length of time allotted 
to a generation of men. It has been computed that a gen- 
eration passes away in about thirty years. This thought is 
impressive and serious when viewed in connection with a 
pastoral relation covering just this period. How solemnly 
suggestive I how admonitory ! how earnest in instruction 
and appeal I How many sacred influences seem to be utter- 
ing their voices. A large portion of one generation gone, 
and another come ! 0, death, what hast thou done ! 0, 
eternity, what everlasting interests hast thou, during these 
swift years, hid away I 0, God, who is sufficient for these 
things ! 

Moments pass so gently and noiselessly, that it is difficult 
to feel that each is sure to change our place and state. 
"W^iat are single sands ? Yet how soon the glass of life is 
run I To the young, a generation in prospect, is almost as 
eternity. But how soon the record closes, and the seal is 
put on the account. Standing here thirty years ago, look- 
ing at the period of a generation then before me, how con- 



tracted was the vision, and slight the impression, compared 
with the compass of view and depth of emotion which now 
attend the retrospection of the same period. Then it was 
looking with great indistinctness and uncertainty at the 
moving generation ; now it is looking entirely and clearly 
through it. Then it was only dreaming of what might be, — 
much of which, time has shown to have been only in the 
imagination, now it is, with the greatest historical assur- 
ance, knowing what has been. If all those of the generation 
of whom we are speaking, who have passed away — if all 
who were present at my ordination exercises and have 
since gone to the other world, and all who have since com- 
menced and closed their earthly existence, should now 
enter this sanctuary, you would all be obliged to go out to 
give them room. And what an assembly that would be, of 
the dear ones for whom we have mourned and wept ! Pa- 
rents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. 
Some worn out in the service and trials of life, others 
stricken down in the midst of their greatest vigor and use- 
fulness, without a moment's warning, and others still, called 
away in the early morning of their days, just as the bud of 
life was unfolding in beauty and promise. What expe- 
riences, and instructions, and admonitions they would bring 
along with them ! But they will not come back to hear our 
record, or to rehearse their experiences to us. Yet being 
dead they still speak ; their utterances on this occasion are 
peculiarly distinct and intensely significant. Regard the 
record I now rehearse, then, as partly their message of wis- 
dom and admonition. 

It will be pertinent to this occasion, and useful, to connect 
historically, the present pastorate with those which preceded 
it, so that there may be a connected, though brief history of 



our religious interests from the begining of the settlement 
of the place. I shall make only such historical references 
as have a religious or moral bearing, and have a direct or 
remote relation to those objects for which the ministry has 
been established and sustained. 

On the fifteenth of May, 1667, the General Court ap- 
pointed a committee to view and report on a tract of land, 
of which Holden is a part. They made their report the fol- 
lowing year, in which they say, " We do ofier unto the 
court that which follows, viz : that there be a meet portion 
of land granted and laid out for a town, in the best form the 
place will bear. That a prudent and able committee be ap- 
pointed to lay it out ; that due care be taken by the com- 
mittee that a good minister of God's word be placed there 
as soon as may be, that such a people as may be there 
planted, may not live as lambs in a large place without a 
shepherd." 

Certain men, called proprietors, early obtained possession 
of territory embracing this town, obtaining their right to 
the said soil, both by a grant of government, and by a deed 
from the aboriginese. In 1733, a petition, headed by James 
Thompson and sixteen others, was sent to the proprietors, 
praying that the land might be taxed to defray the expenses 
of erecting a meeting-house and supporting a minister. 
This reasonable request was at first denied. But the im- 
portance of establishing religious institutions so weighed 
upon the minds of the petitioners, and feeling that it was just 
that property which through their infiuence would be safer 
and more valuable, should be taxed, they repeated and per- 
sisted in their application until they prevailed. In 1736, a vote 
was passed Iqj the proprietors, '' to erect a meeting-house fifty 
feet long and forty feet wide, and twenty-two between 



joints." At the same meeting it was voted, "that said 
house be erected about sixty rods south of where four roads 
meet." The place of the meeting of the four roads referred 
to, is about sixty rods in a northeasterly direction from 
where the four roads now meet, by our common ; and the 
site of the meeting house is about on the spot on which the 
house of the late Col. Damon now stands. It was an un- 
painted tabernacle, with windows of small diamond shaped 
glass, set in leaden sashes. About the same time that it 
was voted to build a meeting-house, it was also voted " that 
provision be made for supporting an orthodox clergyman for 
three years next to come." To defray the expenses involved 
in executing the above votes, a tax was assessed " of four- 
pence per acre the first year, and twopence the second, and 
threepence the third, on all the land of the precinct." 

In the winter of 1739-40, measures were adopted to ob- 
tain a town charter, which was accomplished in the early 
part of 1741. On the fourth of the following May, the town 
was duly organized by the choice of officers. In one hun- 
dred years from that date, May 4th, 1841, the town cele- 
brated its first centennial with appropriate and interesting 
exercises. 

In two weeks after our municipal organization, a town 
meeting was called, when, of the six votes passed, two were 
the following : " Voted to have the gospel preached in town. 
Voted to have a writing and reading school." On the 19th of 
July, 1742, the town (there being no church,)"unanimously 
invited Rev. Joseph Davis to settle with them in the gospel 
ministry. He was ordained on the 22d of the following 
December, and on the same day this church was formed, 
consisting of fourteen members, all of whom were males. 
The council called for these purposes consisted of four 



churches — Lancaster, Shrewsbuiy, Worcester and Rutland. 

Misdemeanors in the early history of this town, do not 
appear to have been very frequent; but when they did 
occur, offenders were looked after. In 1753, as we learn 
from the town record, two boys were fined one pound and 
sevenpence, for breaking glass in the meeting-house. 
Either the boys are now more circumspect, or the powers 
that be are less rigid in enforcing the laws. 

The pastoral relation of Eev. Mr. Davis continued about 
thirty years, till January, 1773. In a memorial sermon 
preached by him, he says, ''At first, your increase was 
slow, and little alteration for the term of five years ; but 
afterwards the increase was more rapid, for at the end of 
ten years, your number of families was fifty-five. For the 
second ten years, the increase of families was small — only 
ten. The last ten years of my ministry, the increase was 
fifty-one ; the whole number at my dismission being 106 
families. At the end of twenty years the church consisted 
of seventy-five members, and when I was dismissed, of 
eighty-six, thirty-eight were males and forty-eight females." 
In the same sermon, Mr. Davis speaks of a remarkable sick- 
ness, about seven years after his settlement, when twenty- 
two died ; and of another about six years after, when there 
were forty-five deaths, mostly of the young. 

After the dismission of Mr. Davis, the church remained 
without a settled pastor till December 21, 1774, a little less 
than two years, when Rev. Joseph Avery was ordained and 
installed. At this time our political relations to Great 
Britain were becoming very delicate, and in the folio wing- 
spring the war of the Revolution commenced in a tangible 
and earnest form. It is peculiarly pertinent, in view of 
the present state of our country, to quote two of a series of 



9 

fourteen resolutions passed about this time by the citizens 
of Holclen : 

'^ Eesolved, That liberty, both religious and civil, is a 
most precious and inestimable gift of the great and glorious 
Creator of all things, granted to all rational creatures. 
Xeither can any person or persons give or sell it away from 
himself, any more than he can take it from another. 

Resolved, secondly. That if any have been so unfortun- 
ate as to surrender their liberty, such act of theirs cannot 
impose any moral obligation of servitude on them person- 
ally, especially if they were enslaved by irresistible power ; 
surely, then, it cannot reasonably bind their successors in 
every future generation." 

Such were the sentiments which our fathers entertained 
and boldly expressed in regard to human liberty, as an ab- 
stract and general principle. If it had been so accorded to 
all others by this nation, as well as demanded for them- 
selves, the occasion of this cruel and bloody war in which 
we are now involved, would never have existed. It will be 
well to bear this in mind in relation to our future action 
and destiny. 

The ministry of Mr. Avery, which continued about fifty 
years, was one of general peace and quietness in this place, 
though for some portion of this period Massachusetts and 
the nation were much excited by political strife, and the 
country passed through two wars with Great Britain. Mr. 
Avery was a man of more than ordinary ability ; he was 
amiable, and kind and faithful to his flock. By general 
consent he was called a "peace-maker." Though he wrote 
many sermons, none were printed; and I am unable to 
avail myself of any memorial sermon of his to supply what 
might be pleasing and instructive in the history of his min- 



10 

istry. From other sources, however, items of public inter- 
est may be gathered. 

The meeting-house having become somewhat dilapidated, 
the question was agitated in a town meeting, hekl Decem- 
ber 10th, 1787, whether the old meeting-house should be 
repaired, or a new one built. The opinion being prevalent 
that it would be wiser to build anew, a committee was 
chosen to draft a plan, and estimate the cost. The house 
was erected during the year 1789, which is within the mem- 
mory of very few in this audience. The following vote 
stands on the town records. '' Voted, That the committee 
chosen to provide rum and sugar to treat spectators at the 
raising of the meeting-house, be appointed to settle with 
Capt. Davis for the money he laid out in rum and sugar, 
and to take part of the fine money in the treasury to settle 
it with." When the pews were disposed of, it was provided, 
'' that the wives should sit opposite to, and equal in rank 
with their husbands ;" also, that the audience " should not 
leave their seats until the pastor and deacons had passed 
out." Yeriiy, times do change ! 

The good influence of a new and suitable sanctuary w^as 
soon visible, and manifested in the erection of better school 
houses. This is one of the results of the "way of God in 
the sanctuary," giving a higher appreciation of the value 
and instrumentalities of general knowledge. 

In 1809-10, occurred a very extensive religious awaken- 
ing, usually called by our elder inhabitants, the " first re- 
vival;" as the results of which, more than sixty united with 
the church. Such a general religious interest was quite 
new, both to pastor and people, causing for a while consid- 
erable opposition, and awakening in the minds of the com- 
munity much wonder and excitement at such new manifes- 



11 

tations, of which the}^ had heretofore been ignorant. 
Though the externals of religion had been well sustained, 
the vital principle had apparently almost died out. But 
little was thought of piety of heart, and now that the 
spirit of God was deeply moving the religious sensibili- 
ties, it almost of necessity occasioned great and even 
strange commotion. The result was most auspicious for vital 
piety in this place. The distinguishing t3^pe of religion ex- 
perienced a marked change from that time. Those wdio 
have since been on the stage of action have been no strangers 
to revivals. Few places indeed, have been more blest with 
special divine influences. 

The church was destitute of articles of faith for about sev- 
enty years after its organization. There was only a cove- 
nant. Under this, some, as now, associated themselves to- 
gether as regular members of the church, entitling them to 
all its rights and privileges. Others did what was called, 
"owning the covenant;" that is, assented to its requiie- 
ments and obligations, which entitled them to the baptism 
of their households, but not to the participation of the sacra- 
ment of the Lord's Supper. December 18, 1809, it was 
voted that the method of owning the covenant, as practised 
in this church, should be discontinued, and soon after, it 
was unanimously voted to adopt a confession of faith ; but 
by some neglect, no vestage of such a document can be found 
on record. 

Mr. Avery held the pastorate nearly fifty years. Rev. 
Horatio Bardwell was installed junior pastor on the 22d of 
October, 1823. His ministry, of about ten years, was high- 
ly acceptable and successful. In 1827, it was voted to sub- 
ject the meeting-house to a process of repairing and remod- 
elling, which was carried into execution the following year. 



12 

The result was, the house in which we are now assembled. 
It originally stood about midway from its present site to the 
highway in front. It was moved back, the roof turned a 
quarter round, a vestibule and dome added, and the inside 
made entirely new, to correspond with the prevailing mode 
of construction at that day. Towards the close of Mr. 
Bardwell's ministry there was an extensive revival and a 
large addition to the church. 

Though I have not, thus far, alluded to my own ministry, 
yet it has not been slightly afi'ected by these preceding 
events and influences. It will be seen, that from the original 
settlement of the town, the rights and privileges of gospel 
institutions have been highly appreciated and generously 
provided for. Pastoral labor, coeval with the incorporation 
of the town has been enjoyed almost literally without in- 
terruption. But once, indeed, has it occurred for more 
than a hundred and twenty years ; and then for a period 
of less than two years, between the first and second 
pastorates. The good results of this w^ise provision have 
been quite distinct in the good order and general intelli- . 
gence, and right influence which have marked the history 
of ITolden. In giving a sketch of my own ministry, I shall, 
of necessity, make some allusions to events included in 
former memorial discourses, though I intend to avoid a 
repetition. I assure you, most unfeignedly, my dear hear- 
ers, that I attempt this service with feelings of delicacy and 
self-reproach. It is always embarrassing to a sensitive mind 
to speak of one's self, and what he has done, and it seriously 
increases the embarrassment, to be conscious that he has 
come far short of his duty. In entering the pastoral office, 
one is apt to fear that he shall not be faithful. But when he 
looks on his work, which is almost completed, whose mis- 



13 

takes and imperfections cannot be numbered nor corrected, 
he feels condemned and grieved, and sad. He wishes he 
had been more earnest, and diligent and faithful, and he 
sometimes longs to go over his course again, hoping that 
he should be a wiser and better laborer in the vineyard of 
his Master. 

In the early part of the year 1832, Mr. Bardwell signified 
his desire to be released from his pastoral relation to this 
people, and his regular services soon after ceased. A variety 
of candidates for settlement were then employed, and the 
society was becoming somewhat seriously divided, when the 
committee applied to me, to try my chance in a similar 
capacity. My first appearance in this unenviable position, was 
on the first Sabbath of January, 1838 ; and on account of the 
peculiar condition of the society at that juncture, it was a 
fiery ordeal for a young man to endure. AVhen the candi- 
date had been seen and heard, and questioned hj those of 
various interests and isms, then taking form and position, 
he was, with a good degree of unanimity, invited to the 
pastorate. For various reasons, which seemed good and 
sufhcient, the call was declined. The society then went 
through another season of hearing and rejecting candidates, 
when, as it seemed by the manifest direction of Providence, 
I was again invited to the pastoral ofiice. The call was ac- 
companied by some other communications, which seemed to 
make it. plain that I should turn from another field of labor 
which I had a strong desire to. enter, and come here. 
Under this impulse, I came, and was ordained on Thursday, 
the 24th day of October, 1833. And I can truly say in the 
Apostle's words, " that I came among you in weakness and 
fear, and in much trembling." I was in feeble health, and 
when I surveyed the field which was spread out before me, 



14 

I felt like exclaiming, " I am utterly insufficient, physically, 
mentall}^ and spiritually, for these things." But I had put 
my hand to the plough, and must not look hack. Having 
laid myself on the altar, I hoped that God would accept the 
oiFering, though it was not without many blemishes ; and 
that He would mercifully be pleased to bless what I felt 
would be, and now know has been, a very imperfect minis- 
terial service. I felt conscious of a desire to do better than 
I feared I should, and far better than I now am sure that I 
have. My hope in respect to a fearful number of short-com- 
ings, is in the exceeding riches of the pardoning grace of my 
Master. While it might indicate arrogance and presumption, 
for a pastor to affirm confidently what he has accomplished, 
and proclaim the results of his labor, he may with propriety, 
on suitable occasions, declare what he has desired and designed 
to do, and what God has wrought through his humble instru-| 
mentality. Permit me, then, to say, that when I fully de-! 
cided to become your pastor, it at once became my fervent 
wish and determined purpose to render you a warm and 
hearty service. I determined that my interests and aifec- 
tion should go with me, and abide with you, and be yours, 
as long as the Providence of God should keep me your min- 
ister. And now, I solemnly declare, that it has been ever 
thus to this day. I have loved no other people as I have 
loved you ; you have had my undivided interests, labors 
and affisctions, and my pastoral concern from the begin- 
ning has been only for you. My desire has been to do 
you good, my joy has been to see you prosper, and it has 
sadly grieved me to see you afflicted. It has been my wish 
and purpose to be attentive and obliging and faithful to you 
in all relations and conditions. It has been my settled de- 
termination not to neglect any of you, and especially when 



I 



\ 



15 

pastoral labor or visits were particularly required. But to 
affirm that I have in all cases come up to the full measure 
of this standard, would be belying my own convictions of 
truth. I have no manner of doubt, that in numerous cases, 
complaints against me w^ould have been just ; probably I 
have deserved many more than have been actually made. 
Yet I know that all such direlictions of duty have been not 
vicious or intentional omissions, but have oecurred in spite 
of a fixed contrary resolution. 

I came to you deeply impressed that as the way of the 
Lord is in the sanctuary, I must so apportion my labors, 
that much and sufficient time and study must be set apart, 
to render the service in the sanctuary as attractive and in- 
structive and impressive as I might be able. I had been so 
taught b}^ experienced and able teachers, and every year 
has confirmed me in the conviction that it is the true way 
for the greatest usefulness. It is not for me- to judge how 
well I have executed my purpose, but this has ever been my 
aim. And my judgment to-day is firm, that the minister 
who would serve his people most profitabh^, and would have 
the longest and most quiet ministry, should give his most 
especial attention to his preparations for his public services 
in the house of the Lord. Other interests, excepting those 
of the sternest necessitj^, as funerals, and sicknesses, and be- 
reavements, must ordinarily yield to this claim. But this 
course will render a pastor liable to be complained of for 
neglecting his people. Some not knowing, not being able 
to know, how much time is weekly required by the minister 
to satisfy them in the sanctuary, will think, and quite inno- 
cently too, that he might easily do more work, that his la- 
bors are easy, and that certainly he m.ight visit them oftener 
than he does. But of this I am quite certain, that the min- 



16 

ister who spends so much time among his parishioners as to 
satisfy all with the frequency of his visits, will soon fail to 
satisfy any in his Sabbath service. You will, therefore, 
please to excuse me in future, as you generally and gener- 
ously have in the past, if I continue to practise according to 
those convictions. And when the time shall come, if it has 
not already, when I shall fail to satisfy your reasonable re- 
quirements in the sanctuary, let me counsel you that it will 
be high time for a change of pastor, though you should see 
me in your dwellings every week of the year. 

In what I have said, I know you will not accuse me of advo- 
cating a secluded pastoral life, and^n ignorance of and lack of 
sympathy with the condition of his flock. I think you will not 
feel that on this point I have egregiously erred. It is to be 
presumed that you have not been seriously dissatisfed with 
your minister's course, hovv^ever numerous have been. his 
mistakes and short comings, and that he has felt tolerably 
contented and satisfied, that our relation has existed for a 
whole age. Do you know how extremely rare such a long 
connection is, at the present day ? There are in Massachu- 
setts four hundred and ninety congregational churches, and 
how many of them, do you think, have pastors in actual and 
full service, that is, without colleagues, to do the labor, who 
have been settled as long as our relation has existed ? Only 
three ! Dr. Ide, of Medway, Dr. Storrs, of Braintree, and 
Mr. Fitz, of Ipswich. If there is any merit in this protrac- 
ted connection, then it is surely right that you and I should 
take a good share to ourselves. A ministry, in these days, 
when neither minister or people are bound to each other by 
any constraint, but to the greatest extent act voluntarily, 
would not be likely to be so stable, unless there existed a 
large degree of mutual confidence and aff'ection and forbear- 



17 

ance. Our proof of this confiding and endearing relation, 
is the most demonstrative that could be furnished. 

This long and harmonious connection is the more remark- 
able, in consideration of the great general commotion and 
excitement which have existed through this entire period. 
There has not been a moment for these thirty years, but the 
moral and political elements have been in active, and often 
angry and antagonistic disturbance. This has been a fruit- 
ful occasion of unsettling ministers, and dividing societies 
and churches. Of course, we have felt the agitating influ- 
ence. That I have not always pursued a course which has 
been at all pleasing to some of my best and most substantial 
and respected friends, I am, and ever have been, fully aware. 
And far am I from afiirming that my course has been the 
.wisest; but this much I am sure you will permit me to say, 
that I have conscientiously endeavord to do as my Master 
would have me in the premises, and to pursue the course in 
speaking and acting, which would most effectually promote 
your peace and good. 

There has been more diversity among us, perhaps, on the 
treatment of slavery than on any other topic. There has 
been no essential difference in regard to the institution 
itself, for we have alike held it in abhorrence ; but we have 
not all judged quite alike in regard to the most prudent and 
just raethod of dealing with this abomination. But the day 
for much difference of opinion among us has, I think, passed 
away, and we are now seeing eye to eye, and feeling 
heart to heart. Since the rebels have utterly violated all 
constitutional leagues and provisions, and made that ac- 
cursed institution, in which the free States were in some 
measure connected with them by constitutional entangle- 
ments, the occasion of war, and have rendered it a necessity 



18 

that, by a purely war measure, the institution should, by 
executive proclamation, be declared null and void ; we all 
see our way clear to say to all the oppressed in all rebeldom, 
''go free;" and not only to bid them God speed, but to do 
what in us lies, by ballot and by arms, to secure them the 
rights of freemen. May it please God that in the progress 
of this dreadful war, every shackle shall fall from every 
slave in the land. If it be asked what can be done with so 
many bondmen set free, I would reply, that I should have 
much less fear of them than of their masters while retaining 
them in bondage. The former state, I should be quite wil- 
ling to risk, but the latter, I should most profoundly dread. 
I have, in this connection, dwelt on this subject because it 
has been interwoven with all the relations of pastor and 
people for the last thirty years. But though public inter- . 
ests have to so great an extent deserved attention during 
this period, those of a more social and private order have not 
been the less important. The parochial and neighborhood and 
home mutations and scenes of a thirty year's pastorate are 
numerous and impressive. A single year of pastoral expe- 
rience and observation will often furnish materials for an in- 
structive volume ; then how large and varied must be the 
developments and vicissitudes of a generation ! What must 
be the pastor's observations and emotions in attending 
about eight hundred funerals, and witnessing the sundering 
of so many ties of every name and kind, and so many tears 
of grief and despair ! What serious changes, as well as 
bleeding hearts have been produced by those nearly one 
thousand deaths which have occurred during this period, in 
this population ! Into how few of our dwellings has the 
unwelcome and fatal messenger not cast his gloomy shadow ! 
How few who have lived through this period can Uffirm, 



19 

that none of those deaths affected either their condition or 
peace ? 

Five hundred and forty individuals have I had the honor 
and pleasure of joining in the holy bands of marriage, thus 
assisting in giving very essential change to their condition , 
and destiny. It has been my most delightful privilege to 
welcome, in my Master's name, three hundred and seventy- 
five who we trust were his disciples, to the fellowship and 
rights of the church. Many of whom I am permitted to 
declare, have honored their profession and their Lord. 

One hundred and seventy-five times have I broken the 
bread and given it in Christ's name, from his own table, to 
his waiting flock, and precious indeed have been these sea- 
sons of love and promise. 

Some 3300 sermons have I attempted to preach for the 
honor of Christ and the good of men, many of which I am 
painfully sensible were exceedingly imperfect, and few, if 
any, nearly what they ought to be, in power and pathos and 
appeal. This record is easy to make, but the result, as 
affecting both pastor and people, is more weighty and seri- 
ous than either tongue can describe or mind conceive. 

It would be an unjustifiable omission not to give grateful 
prominence, on this memorial occasion, to the various seasons 
of the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit on many who 
within this period have passed away, and upon others who 
still remain. There have been nine distinct and precious 
revivals, when nearly all who have united with the church 
of Christ became his disciples. Most vital to the prosperity 
of Zion, if indeed not to its very existence, have been these 
refreshings from the presence of the Lord. With such con- 
stant drain upon us by deaths, and especially by re- 
movals of residence, if this resource for recruiting soldiers 



20 

for Christ were cut off, his army would soon become small 
indeed, if not extinct. 

But in all these years, our necessity for a revival has never 
been more urgent and distressing than at the present time. 
Let our prayers be fervent and unceasing, that God will 
not give up his heritage to reproach. 

I cannot close this history of my long connection with this 
people without bearing the most heartfelt testimony to the 
uniform forbearance, kindness, generosity and sympathy 
which myself and family have always received. In looking 
back through this long period, I can scarcely recall a single 
occasion, when I felt that I received unjust or unkind treat- 
ment ; on the contrary, our intercourse has always been of the 
most kind and pleasant nature ; you have received me 
into your dwellings in times of both joy and sorrow, with 
the most perfect cordiality, and have from first to last, made 
me the recipient of constant and unnumbered favors ; 
and more than all, your appreciative sympathy and aid, in 
those dark days when the woes of sorrow have almost over- 
whelmed us, have bound you to my heart by a thousand ties 
of gratitude and affection. 

Many changes have occurred in connection with this 
church and society, which deserve notice, did time permit, 
as being both affecting and instructive. To the communica- 
tion inviting me to become your minister, were appended 
the names of five influential members of the society, who 
were the committee of the parish, four of whom have, for 
many years, been numbered with the dead. The only sur- 
vivor is the eldest man in town, who has, to the present 
time attended public worship with exemplary punctuality, 
until his hearing has become so much impaired that he can 
derive little benefit from the service. Of the council who 



21 

ordained me, most have passed away, wlio officiated in tlie 
exercises of the occasion. An elder brother, who preached 
the sermon, he who made the consecrating prayer, he who 
gave the right hand of felloAvship, and he who addressed the 
people, are all gone. The church was then large, indeed, 
the largest then in this vicinity ; but more have since been 
separated from it by deaths and removals, than were then 
members of it. During my ministry almost five hundred 
have been removed from the church, averaging more than 
sixteen per year. This is quite remarkable, seldom occur- 
ring in a community like this. Under a process of such 
large and unceasing depletion, it is not easy to sustain a 
church and religious institutions. 

At my ordination there. were four deacons of the church, 
all of whom long ago ceased to perform the duties of the 
office. Two long since died, and two are supposed to be liv- 
ing. Those who now serve in this relation have held the 
office 24, 21, and 14 years respectively. Where is that large 
and compact assembly which was gathered here at my ordi- 
nation ? Most, as with the council, have passed from earth 
and earthly scenes. "Where are the members of the choir, 
that left not a vacant place in those seats on that occasion, 
and who there sang as I thought then, and still think, as 
few choirs can sing ? I^^ot one has been left for these many 
years ; and not a few have gone to join in heaven's chorus. 
Where are those venerable and honored fathers and mothers 
and many of their children, who made up the assembly and 
constituted my early hearers ! Are you the men and 
women of those days ? A very few of you are, but most of 
you, if indeed you had commenced your existence, were 
only in the infancy of your being. It is not so now ; you 
are the fathers and mothers, bearing the burden and heat 



' ■ 22 

of the day, and almost beginning to grow old. Bi\t you will 
not feel that because you generally were not the first to con- 
stitute my pastoral charge, you are the less cherished and 
beloved. Do you not remember, that though Benjamin was 
the youngest of Jacob's sons, this child of his old age seemed 
to be the dearest of all ? It would seem to be the result of 
a wise Providence, that parents and pastors and teachers 
should possess that versatility of interest and affection, that 
they even continue to cherish and love with deep and warm 
emotion, all who are from time to time added to their fold. 
Though you did not constitute the flock chiefly of which I was 
originally made overseer, you are now my charge, and I feel 
as truly now as I ever felt, that I dwell among my own 
people. 

The general condition of things in the entire town, has 
undergone a surprising change during the period under re- 
view. Thirty years since, nearly all the older residences, 
and particularly those connected with any considerable form, 
were owned and occupied by substantial and valuable fam- 
ilies. There were then no foreigners in the place. There 
was a large number of young men and women, who 
seemed destined to take the places which their fathers and 
mothers were honorably and usefully filling.' Yonr own ob- 
servations will show you what changes have occurred. The 
number was then greater who were both able and willing to 
aid in sustaining gospel institutions than now. For many years 
alter my settlement, there was not the slightest difiiculty in 
obtaining all the money that was desired for this purpose. 
Some of yoii will feel quite impressed, that a change in this 
regard has surely come. 

In the progress of my pastorate, we have had many affect- 
ing illustrations of the profound mysteriousness of divine 



23 

Providence. On the one hand, we have seen those who, in 
the estimation of human judgment, could least of all be well 
spared from the service of man and God, suddenly smitten 
to the earth; and on the other hand, those who apparently 
could be well spared, dragging out, year after year, even to 
extreme old age, a worthless and miserable existence, a com- 
fort to none, and a burden to many. Often and strikingly 
it has appeared, that God's ways are not our ways, nor his 
thoughts our thoughts. Many have suddenly been made 
desolate in the conjugal relation, when it seemed that the 
deceased partner was needed more distressingly than at any 
former period of life. Children, too, just becoming the 
sta^y and staff of aged and infirm and dependent parents, 
have been taken when most urgently required for support 
and comfort. 

And I remember that while I am speaking, some of your 
hearts are bleeding for the untimely death of patriotic 
friends, who nobly obeyed their country's call, and tearing 
themselves from homes peaceful and dear, laid their pre- 
cious lives upon the altar. 0, cruel war! casting such dark 
shadows over all the land, bereaving thousands of homes, 
and marking this period as one of desolation and strife ! O, 
accursed rebellion ! accursed now, henceforth and forever, be 
the corrupt and corrupting occasion of it ! 

iTeath and afflictions have visited you at all periods and 
in all forms, the most unexpected and grievous. Some of 
you have greeted the dawn with smiles and hopes, and ere 
the sun went down you have been cast into the • lowest 
depths of desolation and despair. We have mourned to- 
gether, and I have been your companion in tribulation. 
Few pastors have been taught more effectually than yours, 
how to sympathize with their flocks in sorrow. I have on a 



24 

former similar occasion recorded tlie series of deaths with 
which your pastor's family had then been afflicted. I have 
now to record one more, for now 

*' Another hand is beckoning us, 

Another call is given ; 
And glows once more with angel steps, 

The path which reaches heaven." 

I almost fear that true delicacy forbids me to say a word 
more, but I feel assured that you will look with charitable in- 
dulgence on the gushings of parental fondness ; and espe- 
cially as she of whom I beg to say a word, was so well 
known to you, socially, mentally and morally. Sarah 
Cornelia was our third child, born Jan. 1st, 1841, and died 
Feb. 5th, 1862, at the age of twenty-one years. Her organ- 
ization was extremely delicate and sensitive ; too much so 
for an uninterrupted state of quiet and equanimity. From 
her earliest childhood she was extremely impulsive, and ar- 
dent and strong in all her emotional nature, requiring for 
her good a very gentle, yet decided parental control. Most 
mercifully, while she was quite young, a strong and marked 
religious influence came in to mould and guide. From this 
period little was required for her control and direction but 
her own lively conscience and early maturing judgment. 
Her religious principles had great depth and control during 
her brief life, yet long enough, may I say it, to make its 
m.ark. She loved most fervently that which is noble and 
elevating and pure, and hated with a perfect hatred all that 
is unworthy and false. She was endowed with the gift of 
poetry, and a love for all that is beautiful ; was fervently 
attached to literature and science, in the pursuit of which, 
I think I may justly say, she greatly excelled. But she 
loved the kingdom of Grod more. Her last words were, to 
those who watched around her dying couch, " Live in the 



25 

truth." The truth she ardently loved, she tried to live in it, 
and if her days had been many on the earth, I feel assured 
that this would have been her aim and effort. But she was 
early called to her heavenly home, and left in her home be- 
'low a vacancy that is always there, and bleeding hearts that 
feel like David, " would to God I had died for thee !" 

I might also speak in terms of exalted commendation of 
many of your departed friends, whose loss to 3'ou was just as 
great as ours to us. I too well know, how manj^ of you have 
lonely firesides, and crushed and bleeding hearts, and feel 
that the light of your household is gone. 

" 'Tis always tlius, 'tis alTvays thus with, all that's best below, 
The. dearest, noblest, loveliest, is always first to. go. 
The bird that sings the sweetest, the vine that crowns the rock, 
The glory of the garden, the flower of the flock." 

I shall omit a reference to many points of interest which 
are pertinent to this occasion, because they were considered, 
and their record made in m}^ quarter-century discourse, 
which many of you have in your possession. A very curso- 
ry review of the past we have now taken, omitting much 
that would be interesting, yet having consumed about as 
much time as the proprieties of the occasion will permit. 
It requires a volume to give a running history of a single 
life, then how much space and time are needed to rehearse 
the afiairs of a religious society, more than one hundred and 
twenty years old, or even thirty years of its historj-. 

But there is a future, as well as a past, of which we should 
not be oblivious. Indeed it is that which is before, that 
clothes, with its chief value, that which is behind. There is 
little hazard in saying, that the future of such a community 
as this will, in material respects, be quite unlike the days of 



26 

the fathers. In whatever respects there may be improve- 
ment, it seems quite obvious that for a time at least, it will 
require far more christian zeal and effort and liberality to 
sustain religious institutions, and transmit them pure and 
unimpaired to those who shall come after you, than has been' 
demanded in past years. It is high time that you inquire 
seriously what these privileges are worth to you and your 
children, and whether you can nearly as well dispense with 
them, or suffer them to be impaired, as to endure the in- 
creasing burdens which their maintenance and perpetuity 
may require. If I were speaking my parting words to you, 
I should feel impelled to say, with the deepest anxiety, if 
not painful concern, (and why should not I say it now ?) be 
jealous for your sanctuary with godly jealousy. "With wil- 
ling minds and cheerful "hearts, make all required provision 
to sustain a faithful and able ministry. The prosperity and 
peace and spiritual life of yourselves and your posterity im- 
periously require it. Suffer not, and God forbid that the 
historian of thirty years hence shall write of this hitherto so 
blest and prosperous church and society, the glory has 
departed, i^^ay, rather, when large sacrifices and heavy 
burdens come into comparison with the privileges and bless- 
ings of religious institutions, act with an enlightened judg- 
ment and large hearts, and with practical and earnest chris- 
tian faith. Then shall the time never come when this place, 
so favored of God in past years, shall become a moral deso- 
lation, and the enemy of all righteousness in triumph rejoice 
that the gold has become dim, and the most fine gold changed. 
Let us renew our diligence and zeal, and, by the help of 
God, prepare materials to be embodied in future years into 
a record which shall be creditable to our devotion, to our 



27 

religious faith, and whicli the little ones who now know not 
their right hand from their left, shall rehearse when we are 
dead, but not forgotten, as illustrative of our wise and careful 
provision for them, and of our faithful and earnest conse- 
cration to Ilis honor and kingdom, who is Lord of all. 



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